Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie Review

A staggering cast delivers the goods in yet another acclaimed FX series...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 20, 2010

With a highly anticipated third season prepped for launch and a mesmerizing second season arriving on DVD this week -- come on Sony, why no high definition love? -- it seems only fitting to finally review, and subsequently recommend, the first thrilling season of Damages, Todd Kessler, Daniel Zelman, and Glen Kessler's startlingly inventive, wholly unpredictable FX television series. That's not to say it's without its flaws, just that it succeeds where a wide variety of legal dramas have failed. In one fell stroke, it resurrected a flailing genre; one that's grown fat on Law & Order spin-offs and short-lived, formulaic cash-ins. With a talented cast helmed by rising star Rose Byrne and veteran Glenn Close (hot off an Emmy-nominated run on The Shield), countless award-worthy supporting performances (from the likes of Ted Danson, Tom Aldredge, and Željko Ivanek, among many others), and some of the sharpest twist-n-turn plotting in recent television memory, the series' opening twelve-episode stunner left a considerable mark on audiences and critics, and quickly earned a succession of increasingly intriguing followup seasons fans like myself have eagerly programmed into their TiVos.

Friend or foe? Mentor or master manipulator?

Ruthless class action attorney Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) has risen to the top of her field with a steely resolve and a whatever-it-takes mantra that have blessed her with a fearsome reputation. Known for winning tough cases and skewering seemingly untouchable defendants, she's a force to be reckoned with. However, her latest case, an Enron-esque debacle involving an arrogant CEO named Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson) and accusations of insider trading, is proving to be more challenging than she anticipated. Taking a fledgling lawyer under her wing, a sweet-natured young woman named Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), she decides to try a less direct approach: manipulating key witnesses and shuffling a number of unwitting pawns into any position she sees fit. Countering her every step is Frobisher's shady attorney Ray Fiske (scene-stealer Željko Ivanek), a merciless hitman (David Costabile), and a mysterious assailant sending threatening packages to Patty's offices. But with the help of her protégé Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) and loyal assistant Uncle Pete (Tom Aldredge), Patty hones in on Frobisher and prepares to go in for the kill.

Damages makes the first of many departures from convention in the opening moments of its first episode. Hopping between two distinct, maddeningly cryptic timelines -- one in which a blood-covered Ellen inexplicably flees the scene of a murder and one in which she is introduced to Patty's high-powered tactics -- the series follows Byrne far more often than Close. Though we're given limited access to Hewes' personal life, as well as the drama brewing between her, her laid-back husband (Peter Riegert), and her rebellious son (Zachary Booth), Ellen is the only character whose motivations are rarely called into question. More than the gateway through which the story unfolds, she finds herself the victim of Patty's mind-games and less-than-ethical business practices, introducing viewers to the case, its details, and its players in digestible succession. As she digs into her employer's goals and methods, not to mention Frobisher's secrets, she steadily evolves from a naive associate into an empowered survivalist struggling to make her way in a complex labyrinth of back-alley deals and calculated deception. But peeling back the layers of Patty's firm brings with it a heap of consequences, all of which the show's writers explore and unveil at a leisurely, albeit gripping pace.

Of course, none of it would matter without the cast's spellbinding performances. Every expression that crosses Close's face can be interpreted in entirely different ways. Is Patty knowingly manipulating each situation? Is she taking advantage of the things that occur? Is she an oblivious opportunist? Or is she the true antagonist of the series? It's a near-impossible task that requires the utmost control of every glance, squint, and grin; control few actresses could employ as deftly as Close. She establishes Patty as a high-heeled Vic Mackey, doing whatever to whomever whenever she pleases. Byrne is a young revelation, confident in her character's uncertainty and steady in her most vulnerable hours. Her measured innocence provides a welcome, wonderfully nuanced counterpoint to Patty's icy demeanor, and her efforts elevate Parsons well above the damsel-in-distress she might have otherwise been. Ivanek continues his assault on television, serving up yet another distinguished soul who influences important events whilst succumbing to his devious employer's own devices. And Danson? Frankly, I doubt even the most devoted Cheers aficionado suspected he had such smarmy fire and slippery ferocity in his repertoire. As for the rest of the actors that round out Hewes & Associates' staff and adversaries, there isn't a weak link in the bunch. Whether you chalk it up to masterful casting or a rare alignment of series stars, it's difficult to deny how effective an ensemble it is.

Missteps? Zelman and the Kesslers do take a few, but only one stands out two years after the fact. With so many overlapping storylines and plot twists, newcomers will find it's a bit too easy to get lost in the maze. I thought I had a firm grasp on everything that occurred after my first go-round, but my second viewing revealed a bevy of clues, threads, and details I had missed. That's not to say the series is convoluted or inaccessible -- the subtleties I initially overlooked are relativity minor in the grand scheme of things -- but an extra episode or two would have given the season more room to breathe. Even so, the criss-crossing subplots, dense whodunits, and tangled conspiracies are so smartly penned and well-constructed that they're just as responsible, if not more so, for Damages' resounding success as a legal drama as are Close and her colleagues' terrific performances. If you haven't introduced yourself to Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons, be sure to squeeze a meeting into your schedule. Just brace yourself for the shock and awe that transpires as the first season barrels towards its jaw-dropping endgame.

Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Have no fear Hewes & Associates inductees, the garish noise and searing contrast that greets viewers at the outset of Damages' first episode is merely a visual cue Zelman and the Kessler brothers reserve for flash-forward sequences. The moment the series' main timeline takes the reigns, Sony's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer proves its real worth, doling out rich colors, nicely resolved blacks, lifelike skintones, and far more alluring photography. Object definition is sharp and satisfying (even though a slight hint of edge enhancement is visible on occasion) and fine textures are often quite revealing. A handful of interior shots are hindered by inherent instability, but any such shortcomings should be attributed to the show's original source, not the studio's technical efforts. Shots of the city are brimming with legible street signs and distant billboards, closeups showcase every freckle and errant hair, and the offices of Patty's high-powered law firm look immaculate. Noise does surge during poorly lit nighttime sequences, but the rest of the presentation is less problematic. Artifacting, aliasing, distracting ringing, and other errant anomalies are never an issue (beyond those that litter the series' briefly glimpsed secondary timeline), and the creators' every intention -- yes, even the graininess of the picture -- has been faithfully preserved. Damages may not always be the most attractive show, but its proficient technical transfer is striking.

Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though it seemed more remarkable when I first heard it two years ago, Sony's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track nevertheless remains an impressive, notably able-bodied lossless offering. Dialogue, whether whispered or spouted, is hearty, nimble, and perfectly prioritized throughout the first season's twelve episodes, thwarting the clamor of heavy traffic, bustling city streets, and wintry winds with ease. James Levine's riveting score is just as impressive, drawing upon the track's LFE prowess and consistent rear speaker support to allow the series' pulse-pounding musical cues to draw listeners in and wow them at every turn. Likewise, New York City crowds linger in each channel, cars whip across a convincing soundfield, pans and directionality are spot on, and interior acoustics, despite being a bit too eager to please, are suitably enveloping. Dynamics are robust as well, delivering weighty low-end tones and exceedingly stable wheens and sheens. It all amounts to a memorable sonic experience that, negligible episode-to-episode normalization mishaps aside, should leave series fans with few complaints.

Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 3-disc Blu-ray edition of Damages: The Complete First Season features a small assortment of high-quality supplements, the majority of which are presented in high definition. Additional audio commentaries or Picture-in-Picture content would have made the set irresistible, but as it stands, it feels a bit slim compared to other television releases on the market.

• Audio Commentaries: Two commentaries are included. Up first is a pilot episode track in which creators Dan Zelman, Todd A. Kessler, and Glenn Kessler sit down with director Allen Coulter and actress Glenn Close to discuss the show, its characters, their many motivations, the first season's overlapping storylines, and its well-conceived sleight of hand. The second, attached to "I Hate These People," follows Zelman and the Kesslers as they dig even deeper, analyzing the full breadth of the season, key decisions made during the writing process, and their approach to helming such a nontraditional courtroom drama.
• Willful Acts (HD, 23 minutes): This excellent behind-the-scenes documentary is just as arresting, particularly since it could have easily devolved into another paint-by-numbers EPK.
• Trust No One (HD, 12 minutes): An all-too-short plot-centric featurette that neatly dissects the twists and turns of Damages's story.
• Understanding Class Action Guide (HD): A decent interactive feature packed with relevant essays, case studies, expert interviews and more.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 8 minutes): Brief and somewhat redundant, this collection of cuts isn't worth much attention.

Damages: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Before its third season gets underway next week, take this reasonably priced opportunity to introduce yourself to one of FX's more intriguing series, as well as one of the more captivating legal dramas on television. With an unforgettable cast, gripping performances, and a sharply written, unpredictable multi-tiered story, each twist and turn will leave viewers with the overwhelming desire to jump into the next episode posthaste. Sony's 3-disc Blu-ray edition is just as strong as The Complete First Season itself, offering an excellent video transfer, a confident TrueHD audio track, and a small but surprisingly extensive selection of special features. At the very least, it's a television release worth sampling. Give it a rent or go out on a limb, either way I doubt you'll be disappointed.